A tumor of the adrenal gland. The adrenal glands are small organs that sit above the kidneys and secrete important hormones that are responsible for maintain body fluid and electrolyte levels and helps people respond to stress. A pheochromocytoma can cause the release of too much stress hormone such as epinephrine, leading to periodic increases in blood pressure, flushing, and a racing heart beat.
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not a lot:
There is not a lot you can do. The attacks are unpredictable. The excess adrenaline comes from the adrenal. Foods high in tyramine may exacerbate the symptoms. This includes red wine, chocolate, cheese (esp fermented cheese).
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Adrenal tumor:
The classic triad presentation is headache, sweating and fast heart rate. Hypertension is the most common presentation. Not uncommonly the high blood pressure and high heart rate come in waves. May not be sustained, sometimes referred to as paroxsymal. Hope this helps.
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See below:
Pheochromocytoma is a tumor of the adrenal gland. These tumors release chemicals called catecholamines which can cause high blood pressure, headaches, sweating and palpitations and rapid heart beat. The condition sometimes runs in families. The tumor can be diagnosed with urine measurements of the catecholamines. Most tumors are benign and are cured by surgical removal.
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Options:
Signs and symptoms are helpful. The 2 best tests for pheo are plasma fractionated metanephrines or 24 hrs urinary metanephrines and catecholamines. Once these are positive, imagine studies will be used to localize the tumor.
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Too much adrenaline:
These are tumors of the adrenal gland which secrete hormones that basically raise blood pressure. Can have episodic very high blood pressure, fast heart rate, skin flushing, headaches. Easy to test for with blood or urine tests.
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Rare but deadly:
Prognosis depends on how it's treated. Please find a team of physicians who are familiar and comfortable taking care of this problem: surgeon, anesthesiologist, endocrinologist.
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Symptoms of norepine:
Most pheochomocytomas are small and under 10 cm. Occassionally they reach very large sizes growing into adjacent organs like liver. Initially symptoms are frequently not present or are very mild like sweating or rapid pulse. When full outpouring of nor epinephrine and related products are produced blood pressure may bet out of control.
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Usual presentation:
Is extreme hypertension. After that, you will need special blood tests for diagnosis. But this is a rare tumor, and other causes of hypertension are much much more common.
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An endocrinologist:
The work up of a possible pheochromocytoma should be the bread/butter of an endocrinologist, although a good general internal medicine doc would be a good substitute if an endo is not available. This tumor is rare.
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Team approach:
This is a rare but dangerous condition. Make sure the diagnosis was made correctly. You should already have an endocrinologist on the team. Choose a surgeon who has experience in doing these surgeries and make sure the anesthesiologist is also experienced with this surgery as well. Good luck.
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